News

Company Shop Group saves 98 million products from waste, through powerful partnerships

Company Shop Group has today announced a record year in the fight against unnecessary food waste as it reports handling more than 98 million surplus products last year alone, powered by the strength of its partnerships.

Community comes together as new social supermarket opens its doors in Leicester

Hundreds of people in receipt of means-tested benefits came together this morning (6th April 2022) to celebrate the opening of Community Shop, an all-new social supermarket on Marwood Road.

Company Shop Dudley Celebrates First Birthday

Company Shop, the UK’s leading redistribution supermarket, has celebrated the first birthday of its Dudley superstore, which has so far helped its members to collectively save over £3.8m.

Jess Phillips MP praises Company Shop Yardley after visit

Local MP Jess Phillips has praised Company Shop Yardley after visiting the store which opened in December.

Community Shop to open new store in Leicester

Community Shop, the award-winning social enterprise operating eight social supermarkets across England, is set to open a new store in Leicester which will benefit hundreds of local people on the cusp of food poverty.

Company Shop Group supports half-term pop-up community pantries

Company Shop Group joined long-standing partner, Samworth Brothers, to support Leicester City Council’s half-term pop-up community pantries. The pantries helped those who normally receive free school meals by providing access to fresh and healthy food during the holidays.

Company Shop Darlington Celebrates 1st Birthday

The UK’s leading redistribution supermarket, Company Shop, celebrated the first birthday of its Darlington store today (4th February), which has so far helped its members to collectively save over £3.6m.

Defra Minister applauds pioneering work of Company Shop Group following visit

Defra Minister Jo Churchill has praised the pioneering work of the UK’s leading surplus redistribution organisation, Company Shop Group, following a visit to its headquarters in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

Thousands of UK charity workers set to benefit from discount supermarket membership

The UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household products, Company Shop, has expanded its membership criteria to include employees, volunteers and pension recipients from registered charities across the UK.

Community Shop opens new store in Knottingley

Hundreds of Knottingley residents on means-tested benefits can enjoy half-price food shopping, free skills training, and free hot meals for children, at a new store which opens on Pontefract Road on Wednesday [December 15].

Community Shop Lambeth to support hundreds more people in the local community after extensive makeover

Community Shop, the award-winning social supermarket, has reopened its Lambeth store today following a major refurbishment which will allow it to support around 750 people on the cusp of food poverty.

Community Shop expands with Knottingley store set to open

Community Shop, an award-winning social enterprise operating seven social supermarkets across England, is set to open a new store in Knottingley, benefiting hundreds of local people on the cusp of food poverty.

Community Shop presented with Queen’s Award for Enterprise by HM Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire

Community Shop, the UK’s first social supermarket chain, was officially presented with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Promoting Opportunity category yesterday by Lord-Lieutenant Professor Dame Hilary Chapman at Community Shop Athersley.

Company Shop set to open in South Yardley

Company Shop is set to open its second store in the West Midlands, opening this time in South Yardley.

Company Shop Group and Too Good To Go announce partnership aimed at preventing unnecessary waste and supporting local communities 

The UK’s leading surplus redistributor Company Shop Group and food surplus app Too Good To Go have teamed up to establish a new partnership to prevent even more surplus food from going to waste, whilst helping families most in need.

Luminary Programme Wins FDF Award

Company Shop Group, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household products, has this week been crowned winner of the prestigious Innovation Award at the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Awards 2021.

Company Shop Leicester marks 1st birthday having saved members more than £6 million

Company Shop Leicester, which is part of the UK’s leading redistribution organisation Company Shop Group, is marking its one-year anniversary, having saved members over £6million collectively since it first opened its doors a year ago today.

Community Shop Goldthorpe’s popular Big Feast event returns

Children, families, local residents and businesses across Barnsley and Goldthorpe have once again gathered together this August to enjoy the much-awaited “Big Feast” summer event, hosted by the award-winning social supermarket, Community Shop.

Company Shop Southampton officially opens its doors, benefitting thousands of local people

Company Shop Southampton officially opened its doors to shoppers for the first time this morning, meaning thousands of local people can now benefit from high-quality, low-cost food and household products – helping to stretch family budgets.

Mayor Andy Street applauds Company Shop Group following visit

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has commended the pioneering work of the UK’s largest surplus redistributor, Company Shop Group, following a visit to its Dudley superstore.

Community Shop Beechwood opens its doors

Social supermarket Community Shop Beechwood has officially opened its doors in Wirral.

Company Shop store set to open in Southampton

Company Shop, an innovative redistribution supermarket that prevents good food and household products from going to waste – and which is the first of its kind in the region – is set to open its doors in August, creating 40 new jobs in the area.

Company Shop Group redistributes over 80 million surplus items, following another year of rapid expansion

Company Shop Group has today announced that the total number of surplus food and product items it has redistributed within the last year has reached over 80 million, collectively saving its network of  members over £64million on their food bill.

Award-winning social supermarket set to open in Wirral

Community Shop, a Queen’s Award-winning social enterprise, is set to open in Wirral having received planning approval from the Council and funding from Ocado’s charitable donation scheme, You Give We Give.

Wilko Partners with Company Shop Group
 
Home and garden retailer, wilko, has partnered with Company Shop Group to help reduce the volume of products which find their way into landfill.

Hat-trick for Company Shop Group, as Community Shop wins Queen’s Award

Community Shop, the UK’s first social supermarket chain, has today been announced as a winner of the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise, in the Promoting Opportunity category.

Company Shop Dudley officially opens its doors, benefitting thousands of local people
 
Company Shop Dudley officially opened its doors today at 10am, meaning thousands of members can now benefit from high-quality, low-cost food and products – helping to stretch family budgets.

Company Shop Group joins forces with Biffa to boost UK Corporate Surplus Responsibility

Company Shop Group, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household products, has been acquired by Biffa plc, the UK’s leading sustainable waste management company.

Hello Darlington! Thousands of people set to benefit as Company Shop opens its 12th store

Company Shop, the UK’s leading food redistribution supermarket that offers surplus products from well-known brands at amazing prices, has opened in Darlington.

Nestlé UK & Ireland extends partnership with Community Shop to support families in need over the Christmas holidays

Award-winning social enterprise, Community Shop, has once again teamed up with long-standing partner Nestlé UK & Ireland to provide 45,000 families in need with access to food and festive goodies during the Christmas holiday period.

Company Shop Opens New Store in Bradford 

Company Shop, the UK’s leading food redistribution supermarket that offers surplus products from well-known brands at discounted prices, has opened its 11^th store in Bradford.

Families received half-term boost as Community Shop helps tackle holiday hunger

Hundreds of families were provided with access to food and support over the October half-term period, as social supermarket Community Shop rolled out its Healthy Holidays programme in a bid to tackle holiday hunger.

Company Shop shines new light on surplus management, with launch of pioneering Luminary Programme

Company Shop Group, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus stock, has today announced the launch of its trailblazing Luminary Programme, a first of its kind mentoring programme for industry leaders which seeks to deliver a step change in intelligent surplus management, and reduce unnecessary waste.

UK’s leading food redistribution supermarket opens new store in Edinburgh

An innovative supermarket that prevents good food and household products from going to waste, has opened its doors in the city for the first time. Company Shop Edinburgh is the second store of its kind in Scotland and follows the successful launch of the discount supermarket chain in Renfrew, in December last year.

Award-winning social supermarket opens on Liverpool’s Walton Road
 
Community Shop, an award-winning social enterprise and the UK’s first social supermarket chain, has opened its new store at 211 Walton Road in Liverpool 4 – providing the local community with access to high-quality, low-cost food and household products.

Even more key workers to benefit from big brand discounts

Membership of Company Shop temporarily extended to reach more key workers 

Company Shop, the surplus redistribution superstore, has temporarily widened its membership to reach even more key workers across the region during the pandemic – helping to stretch family budgets by providing high-quality, low-cost food and essential products.

Company Shop Group Signs C-19 Business Pledge 

Company Shop Group, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household products, has signed up to the global COVID-19 Business Pledge - committing to continuing to support its colleagues, members and communities during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Food waste? Snow way! Indoor ski slope becomes the UK’s largest fridge to save surplus stock from being wasted

Amidst concerns that the UK is within days of running out of cold storage capacity, the UK’s longest indoor real-snow ski slope is being used as storage to save thousands of items of perfectly edible food from going to waste, ensuring it reaches the plates of the people who need it most.

Company Shop Group spearheads innovation and growth in surplus stock redistribution

Company Shop Group, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household products, has announced a significant increase in the amount of stock it has saved from going to waste – including 8% growth in non-food items such as household products, personal items and homeware.

Company Shop superstore launches in Renfrew, Scotland
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Pioneering food redistribution supermarket, that helps the environment while giving members discounts on their favourite food brands, has launched in Renfrew, Scotland for the first time.

Corby’s Company Shop celebrates grand reopening with new jobs and more products 

Company Shop Corby, the pioneering surplus redistribution superstore, has today flung open its doors to celebrate a grand reopening, after an extensive refurbishment to expand its retail offer to people across Northamptonshire.

Award-winning social supermarket opens in Halton

Community Shop, an award-winning social enterprise and the UK’s first social supermarket chain, has today opened its doors to the local community in Halton.

Company Shop Founder Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

John Marren, the Founder and Chairman of the UK’s leading commercial redistribution organisation, Company Shop Group, has this week been presented with the IGD’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

Company Shop Washington marks first year by saving millions of products from going to waste

Company Shop Washington, the flagship North East store which is part of the UK’s leading redistribution organisation Company Shop Group, has marked its first year since opening its doors in the region.

Is pester power the key to a greener future? Poll finds nearly two thirds of parents have been asked by their children to be more environmentally friendly

Toy and video game manufacturers have long taken advantage of so-called ‘pester power’ for commercial gain. But a new poll has shown it could also be crucial for a greener future, with nearly two thirds of parents saying their child has asked them to make changes so their household is more environmentally friendly ^[1]

Company Shop Group Praised for Sector Leading Innovation at FDF Awards

Company Shop Group, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household products, is celebrating being crowned winner of the prestigious Innovation Award at the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Awards 2019.

Community Shop Celebrates Half Decade Milestone and 30 million meals

Social enterprise celebrates transformative social impact achieved in first five years

Community Shop, the UK’s first social supermarket chain and award-winning social enterprise, is celebrating helping create 30 million meals from surplus food, which may have otherwise gone to waste. This has been achieved in just five years, as Community Shop works to build stronger individuals and more confident communities.

Hundreds attend Community Shop’s Big Feast Summer Festival

Children, families, local residents and businesses across Grimsby have joined together this month to celebrate good food and community togetherness at the first Nunsthorpe Summer Festival.

Company Shop Group Launches Surplus Super Hero Campaign

Company Shop Group, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household products, has this week kicked off a nationwide summer holiday campaign.

Company Shop Group Secures Landmark Government Funding to Tackle Food Waste

Company Shop Group, the UK’s largest commercial redistributor of surplus food and household products, has today been awarded nearly £2million (£1,960,575) worth of funding as part of Defra’s commitment to significantly reduce the amount of food unnecessarily going to waste in England.

Company Shop Group hosts IGD & WRAP Food Waste Reduction Roadshow

Company Shop Group, the UK’s largest commercial redistributor of surplus food and household products, hosted an IGD and WRAP Food Waste Reduction (FWR) Roadshow this week, on Tuesday, 4^th June.

Survey finds older people embracing more sustainable shopping habits

Whilst environmental issues have repeatedly been found to be a top priority for young people, a new survey shows how young adults are lagging behind their older peers when it comes to embracing more sustainable shopping habits.

Company Shop Group achieves second Queen’s Awards For Enterprise

Company Shop Group, the UK’s largest redistributor of surplus food and household products, was today announced as a winner of the prestigious Queen’s Awards for Enterprise – the UK’s top business accolade.  

Company Shop Group is now a two-time Queen’s Award winner, having achieved this award in the Sustainable Development category before in the same category in 2015. Judges praised Company Shop Group’s significant commercial success and positive benefits for society, the economy and the environment.

The announcement follows another significant year of growth for the business. In 2018, Company Shop Group increased the amount of surplus it redistributed by 8%, and returned over £16.5m back into the industry for the surplus it purchased. Following the opening of two more superstores in 2018, the Group also has ambitious plans for continued expansion in 2019.

The Award also recognises the Group’s award-winning social enterprise Community Shop, the award-winning social enterprise established by Company Shop Group, which sells high-quality, low-cost surplus food to local members who are receiving welfare support and are motivated to make a positive change in their lives and enrol on courses such as employability, financial skills and self-confidence.

Major retailers back new ‘chill to freeze’ innovation

Major retailers including Marks & Spencer, Iceland, Aldi, Sainsbury’s and The Co-op have endorsed a new ‘chill to freeze’ innovation developed by Company Shop to tackle the UK’s food waste challenge.

The initiative will see surplus stock blast frozen and then sold as frozen product; an industry first in the redistribution sector. The process will help to address the long-standing challenge of how to redistribute stock  with limited shelf life, to prevent it ending up as waste.
 

Unpretty can be popular with consumers

Company Shop, the UK’s largest redistributor of surplus stock, has today released figures showing over 2.1 million units of plain packaged products will have been purchased by its customers by the time the company’s financial year ends on 30th September 2018.

 The news follows research published by the University of Edinburgh last week which reported that more than four million tonnes of good food is wasted in the UK each year due to cosmetic standards, in part because of customer expectations of how it should look.
 
Yet Company Shop’s figures are evidence that aesthetics are not everything. The commercial redistributor sells both branded and unbranded goods, and the latest numbers indicate an increasing willingness amongst customers to choose ‘unpretty’ products for the right reasons.

'Changing Mindsets', group's first sustainability and impact report

Company Shop, the UK’s largest redistributor of surplus food and household products, has released it’s first-ever Sustainability and Impact Report.  

‘Changing Mindsets’ demonstrates how the Group’s activity has made a sustainable impact on the food and household industry, headlined by the 70 million units of surplus stock it handled in 2018 which saved 23,607 tonnes of waste, an increase of 8% from the previous year.

·        70 million units handled in 2018 including 4.2 million non-food items
·        23,607 tonnes of waste saved; up 8% from 2017
·        380,000 worth of stock donations by industry partners to support Community Shop

For more information email sustainability@companyshopgroup.co.uk